WORCA hosts Thursday night Toonie Rides with the sponsorship of local businesses and organizations. The rides cost $2 (Toonie) with half of the entry fee going into WORCA’s trail maintenance fund, and the other half into a pot for the top riders – usually, locals who are training for the nationals or even the World Cup, so they can use every cent they get.

The ‘Ride’ part of the name is more about our mandate, which is to foster the use of bicycles in the community. There are a core group of ‘racers’ in our series and we do reward 1st, 2nd and 3rd places however the majority of riders are just out to have fun, explore the trails, get a bit of exercise, and socialize with other members.

You need to be a WORCA member to participate for insurance reasons, but every cent that doesn’t go to the insurance companies is channeled back into protecting and maintaining Whistler’s exceptional network of bike trails.

The races are open to everyone, young and old, and of all abilities.

All participants must wear a helmet and ensure that their bikes are in good working order. Bring water, tube repair kits, and tools because you never know.

A Toonie tip: Review the course maps each week as the range of difficulty can vary week to week depending on what the sponsor has in store for everyone.

TOONIE RIDE ETIQUETTE

STARTINGIf you want to push yourself and ride hard, make sure you are there before 6:30pm so that you can position yourself near the front of the pack. If you start late, you will end up trying to pass a lot of people who are slower than you. If you want to go at your own pace you may want to start a bit further back in the pack. This way you won’t have faster riders trying to pass you all the time. Some Toonie Rides will have staggered starts to break the group up a bit more.

ON THE TRAIL

Helmets are Mandatory: Mountain biking can be hard on the body so please ensure you’re looking after your most important asset and wear a helmet!

Stay on the Trail: As WORCA members we do our best to take care of the trails we have so they will last a long time. That means that we always stay on the trail. Cutting corners and riding off trail are not acceptable.

Crowding: Sometimes the course becomes congested with riders and everyone is off their bike. This is part of the Toonie Ride experience. Be patient, wait your turn and eventually you will get going again. Passing: If you are riding along with people behind you, ask them if they want pass. Check regularly to see if there is anyone on your tail. If you notice someone behind you all of a sudden, they have already beaten you. Let them pass you when it is safe to do so. Likewise, if you would like to pass the person in front of you, ask them politely if you can pass them. Make sure it is a safe place to pass, stay on the trail and thank them for letting you by.

Walking your bike: Sometimes the trail gets steep or very technical and people have to get off their bikes. This is perfectly fine and expected. If you are walking your bike and another person is riding their bike, step out of the way so they can continue riding. Someone on their bike always has the right of way. If you are the person riding on the trail and you come across people walking, call out ‘rider up!’ so they have time to move out of the way. Remember that sometimes you will get ‘bumped off’ your bike by riders in front of you. It’s going to happen and you can’t take this too seriously. Smile and have fun.

APRÈS & SPONSORS

Food & Beer: The Toonie Rides would not exist without the support of our sponsors. The sponsors set the course, marshal, and sweep it. They are not obligated to provide beer and food for everyone but most choose to do so. Show your appreciation to the sponsors by only having one serving and thanking them. The après is not a full course meal, but it is beer and a bite for $2. The sponsors appreciate your gratitude!